South High School Senior Gavin Grams is in his second year of a Youth Apprenticeship with Altmeyer Electric, and he shares below how he has benefited both academically and personally.

Student Name: Gavin Grams
Grade: 12
High School: Sheboygan South High School
Workplace: Altmeyer Electric

What Tech Ed classes are you currently taking or have you taken in your high school career?
“Auto Mechanics, Construction Trades, House Construction, and PLTW (Project Lead the Way) Introduction to Engineering.”

Have you taken advantage of any on-site work experience opportunities?
“This is my second year of a Youth Apprenticeship with Altmeyer Electric.”

Describe your experience with your Youth Apprenticeship:
“I have had a great experience so far with my Youth Apprenticeship. I am in my second year of the program now and I have greatly benefited from it both academically and personally. This experience has allowed me to learn from people who have lots of knowledge in the electrical field. I feel as though I have learned more in one year of working for Altmeyer than I would have learned in a classroom setting. Along with the job-specific skills I have learned, I have also improved on other life skills such as teamwork and responsibility.”

What other (non-RRM) classes are you taking?
“I am taking Composition, which is a college-level English class, along with Social Issues.

What activities are you involved in (clubs, organizations, sports)?
“I play varsity football at Sheboygan South High.”

What is your favorite thing about your Red Raider Manufacturing experience?
“I love the fact that they make it very easy for students to step out into the real world and experience these specialty trades. The Youth Apprenticeship program is almost like a one-year trial, which allows students to figure out if this is what they want to do for the next 40 years.”

What project are you most proud of? 
“I am very proud of the work that I have completed so far in Kohler, at their public school. I have been in Kohler, working with Altmeyer, for a little over a year now. Being able to see the transformation of a building like that makes me feel good, knowing that I contributed to its construction.”

Why should a student participate in the Red Raider Manufacturing program?
“I believe that all students should take advantage of this opportunity that we have in our school district, as I have only seen positives come from taking part in it. Although the program mainly targets trades jobs, there are countless opportunities in other professional fields of work, such as financing, marketing, and even hospitality or culinary. This program also offers students the opportunity to open or close different paths for their future, as they can decide if they want to continue pursuing a job before it's a permanent part of their life.”

What are your future plans?
“I plan on working for Altmeyer Electric after high school. I want to work with them until I acquire my master's license in electrical. Once I do that I want to start my own business related to something in the electrical field.”

Learn more about our Red Raider Manufacturing program here: https://www.sheboygan.k12.wi.us/programs/red-raider-manufacturing